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Cool Business Ideas

Cool Business Ideas, Money Making Opportunities, and Ideas for Multiple Income Streams

Are You Settling for a Paycheck
When What You Really Want Is a Life?

Imagine instead getting paid to work with animals, or create a portable business so you could tour the country in an RV or live on a boat. Imagine getting paid for your art or to take photos. Imagine working at the Grand Canyon or for the Peace Corps. Imagine starting your own non-profit, living overseas, or living rent free as a professional caretaker. People do it every day… and so can you.

In this “Cool Job” section you’ll find some of my favorite resources to help you work at what you love, follow your own road, and live life on purpose. Enjoy!

This Week’s Featured Resources

Attend The Ultimate Photographer’s Workshop LIVE – from HOME

If you’ve ever dreamed of turning your passion for photography into a lifestyle…

If you long for the freedom to set your own hours… travel whenever you please… and wake up every morning LOVING what you do…

… and if you want to do all of this AND make a good income… check out this opportunity to join the biggest photography event of the year — virtually!

I attended this same training in Paris and it is jammed pack full of immediately usable information on how to make money from your photographs.

Simply said, it’s the best, most efficient, most fun way to start living the photographer’s life!

Share Your Knowledge or Passion With a Money-Making Podcast

Maybe you think that before you can launch a podcast you need 1) radio experience, 2) background or knowledge or podcasting, 3) a huge social media following, 4) pre-existing audience members through a current blog, book, etc. or 5) all of the above. Not so!

In fact my friend John had NONE of these. Yet he went on to create one of the top ranked business podcasts. Not only did he attract a massive following from his podcast (over 800,000 downloads in the month of May 2014 alone), but he’s also found multiple ways to monetize his podcast including affiliate relationships, sponsor revenue, and products and services designed to help even non-techies earn a living sharing their passion through their own podcast.

If you love the idea of building this type of credibility and authority in your niche, of growing your audience through an intimate connection with them that only podcasting provides, and creating multiple streams of passive income that will allow you to start living the life you’ve always dreamed of then I encourage you to attend John’s free bi-weekly, Live Podcast Masterclass. This is where you’ll discover the top 5 ways to grow your podcast, 8 ways to monetize your podcast, and 2 super hacks that most podcasters don’t know that will get you listeners faster, plus a behind the scenes look at the #1 Podcasting Community.

Live Rent Free as a Property Caretaker

You can enjoy rent-free living as a property caretaker in desirable locations. Estates, mansions, farms, ranches, resort homes, retreat centers, camps, hunting and fishing lodges, vacation homes, private islands, and any other kind of property imaginable are listed in The Gazette.

In its 22nd year of publication, The Caretaker Gazette is a unique newsletter containing property caretaking and housesitting opportunities, advice, and information for property caretakers, housesitters, and landowners. Published since 1983, it’s the only publication in the world dedicated to the property caretaking field.

The Gazette provides its subscribers with over 1,000 housesitting and property caretaking jobs each year. Each issue has approximately 150 caretaking and housesitting jobs throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and overseas. Click Here to Learn More

NASFT Fancy Food Show

Recent Fancy Food Shows have attracted 19,000 to 32,000 attendees from specialty food, wine, gift and department stores, supermarkets, restaurants, mail-order and other related businesses. You’ll find thousand exhibitors from around the world, presenting more than 100,000 specialty foods to discover and sample. The show is not open to the general public. But, if you are serious about starting your own food related business, I would give your company a name – any name – and sign up to attend as many introductory seminars as you can. If you already have a business, come prepared to make deals! An impressive 87% of all attendees either authorize or recommend purchasing decisions. Click here to Learn More

Great Ways to Make a Living Without a Job

Here are some resources that I have personally reviewed. Along with each description is a link to read my complete review of the product or service described.

These first resources all come from the American Writers and Artists Institute.

Earn a Great Living as a Freelance Copywriter

Simply put, a copywriter is someone who uses words to sell products, services, or causes. One huge perk of being a freelance copywriter is the flexible lifestyle. You can earn your living from anywhere in the world – on the road in your RV, a London flat, an island, or your own home. The self-paced course is outstanding and includes individual feedback from an AWAI instructor. Plus they show you everything you need to know to start getting paid assignments. Top copywriters earn mega-six figure incomes. Most people average more in the $40,000 – $80,000 range. I’ve personally met dozens of people who’ve been able to quit their job in as little as a year and are now working as freelance copywriters.

Portable Jobs and Resources

Make Money Teaching What You Know

Online teaching jobs are another excellent option for travelers. Whether you’re fluent in French, have mastered the violin, or are an expert at Photoshop, there are countless eager students who could benefit from your expertise. Consider teaching on-the-go in virtual classrooms, like the ones offered at TakeLessons. It’s easy to make a living teaching the subjects you’re confident in to eager learners. With online teaching, you can determine your own hours and even which students you’d like to take on. All you need is a laptop or tablet and you can share your skills with the world!

Become a Paid Travel Writer

Great Escape Publishing’s Ultimate Travel Writer’s Program is a work at your own pace e-course course that teaches you everything you need to know to launch your career as a paid travel writer. Topics include insider’s secrets to successful interviews, how to make editors happy and eager to work with you, and where to find freelance assignments. As a freelance writer, you’ll enjoy earning extra money doing what you love (traveling!), you’ll get legitimate and often substantial tax write offs for travel, entertainment, books, computers, and more. Plus, you’ll have the freedom to work from anywhere in the world, at your own pace, as your own boss. I have personally reviewed the self-study version of this course as well as attended the live workshop and can tell you without reservation that both are outstanding.

Turn Your Pictures Into Cash

Can you take a simple photo? If so, you could sell your photos for $150, $500, and even $800 each! Photo buyers all over the world are in need of everyday photos of travel, landscapes, people, and pets, among other popular subjects. I’ve personally reviewed this course and inside you’ll learn exactly how to get started and how to break into dozens of markets that are open to beginners. The program is designed to teach anyone, even the casual vacation photographer, the secrets, tips, techniques, and strategies you need to take profitable photographs and have fun – including where to find paying clients.

Lead Tours

Lead Your Own Tours for Fun and Profit Have you ever taken a trip and had friends and family clamor for advice on how to go to that place, too? Or maybe you sat in a piazza in Rome and thought, “I could lead other people here.” Perhaps you have a passion – wine tasting – and you’d like to share it with others. Then why not turn your travel savvy into money in the bank by designing and leading travel tours? In her new 90-page e-Guide, Go For It! Leading Tours for Fun and Profit, Cynthia Morris walks you through all the steps necessary to design, market, and lead tours either in your neck of the woods or abroad. Cynthia has been leading successful tours to France for years. After receiving a review copy of this comprehensive how-to guide, I can tell you with confidence that Cynthia’s first-hand experience combined with a ton of research is guaranteed to save you tons of time and money. (Oh and if Cynthia’s name sounds familiar she’s one of the guest speakers on the Making Dreams Happen audio program with Barbara Sher, Barbara Winter, and me).

Start Your Own Resume Writing Business in Less Than a Week

There aren’t a lot of businesses you can start for $99. The Pro Resume Writing Program gives you everything you need to set up and run your own successful at-home business as a professional resume writer. In addition to learning how to quickly and easily create resumes for a wide range of professions, you’ll find a heavy emphasis on teaching you how to market and grow your business. In the program description they talk about the potential to earn six figures. If you take advantage of the various add-on services you’ll learn about and focus on a high-end market (people who make six figures expect to pay top dollar for a resume) then I’m sure some people can make that much. But even if you generated more like $25,000 to $50,000, it’s a pretty low risk way to launch a business on the side until you can quit your day job or to just earn extra income.

Work From Home Running Your Own Home Improvement Contractor Referral Network

There are over 300 Homeowner Referral Networks (HRN) operating in the U.S., Canada, and abroad. HRN was rated the #1 Business Opportunity for 1999 by Small Business Opportunities Magazine and founder Debra Cohen has been featured in numerous national media outlets including Good Housekeeping, Remodeling, Entrepreneur and Woman’s Day. Basically, the HRN business involves prescreening a network of home improvement contractors and matching them with local homeowners. Contractors, in turn, pay you a percentage of their fee. The HRN business also offers Aging-in-Place referrals for senior homeowners who are looking for reputable contractors to help modify their homes for senior living. A range of business start-up kits are available all of which include The Complete Guide to Owning and Operating a Successful Homeowner Referral Network (HRN), a custom website, forms, management software, a Graphics CD, one on one consultation time with Debra and unlimited leads from the HRN website.

Other Work From Home & Freelance Resources

Start Your Own In-Home Pre-School Joy started her own in-home pre-school as a way to remain a stay-at-home Mom and make money at the same time. Today she earns in 5 hours what a typical day-care provider makes in 8 hours, and with no poopy diapers! If you love kids and want to learn more about how you can earn part-time or full-time income from your own pre-school, you’ll want to check out this site.

Finding Freelance Assignments ELance is a freelance job finding service where you can market your services and bid on a wide range of freelance assignments. The service is especially useful for those seeking to start or build a home-based business in the areas of: Web design & development, software & technology, graphic design, business strategy (marketing, business plans, PR, etc.), writing & translation, personal assistants, legal (research, patents, etc.), accounting & finance or a whole host of other areas to fit your skills and interests.

Become a “Green” Entrepreneur

With an increased focus on creating an eco-friendly planet, there is a surge of resources for people interested in creating an income and fulfilling their desire to help create a green planet.

Jump on the Green Entrepreneurial Wagon If you are as passionate about the environment as I am, and want to learn more about what creative entrepreneurs are doing to address global warning and other threats, check out Brian Dumaine’s book The Plot to Save the Planet: How Visionary Entrepreneurs And Corporate Titans Are Creating Real Solutions To Global Warming by Brian Dumaine addresses what creative entrepreneurs are doing to address global warning and other threats.

Make Money Growing Small Plants – Even if You Have a Small Yard That’s what Mike McGroarty does. And he’s made thousands of extra dollars doing it. But if you… or someone you know… love the idea of turning that green thumb into the kind of green you can take to the bank, then Mike is your guy. After years of running a thriving home-based plant business, he finally arranged his entire system into an easy step-by-step format that shows you everything you need to make extra money growing plants from your home.

Once you enter Mike’s site you’ll see a link that says “Make Money at Home Growing Small Landscape Plants on 1/20 Acre or Less.” That’s where you want to go!

More Cool Jobs

Back Door JobsAre you ready to explore the many doors of opportunity that short-term jobs have to offer? Or maybe you’re interested in finding your place in the world? This site features lots of life-expanding opportunities under categories like adventure, nature lover jobs, heart work, and opportunities abroad.

Circus of the Kids This fascinating company which teaches kids how to do circus acts are often seeking staff on a contract basis for school gigs and summer camps.

FabJob This site features “how to: guides to starting a wide range of livelihoods like catering, acting, floral design, screen writer, personal fitness trainer, wedding planner, yoga teacher, etiquette consultant, art curator, stand up comic, and butler… just to name a few.

Love History and Writing? Did you know you can actually get paid for writing personal biographies for people? According to the Association of Personal Historians, personal historians come from a variety of backgrounds and orientations. They also earn a living doing some other cool things in such areas as genealogy, storytelling, gerontology, counseling, and video documentary. This association offers conferences, workshops, and a place to connect with others who share your passion for history and for making a living at it.

Write a grant The Foundation Center offers free workshops on grant writing and a monthly subscription service listing grants available to artists, researchers.

Start a for-profit business or an online business Once you’ve decided on a group or cause you want to in some way support think about what gifts you’d like to use in the service of your values. For example, you might start your own consulting or speaking business, write a book, or offer some kind of product or service.

Make a Living by Making a Difference

Join the Peace Corps It’s not for everyone but the friends I know who have done it have been changed forever.

Global Volunteers organizes one-to three-week volunteer opportunities in 19 countries on six continents. You get to immerse yourself in another country while helping with a local project like teaching English in Vietnam or joining the local people’s effort to expand the acreage of the Monteverde Cloud Forest in Costa Rica. They also offer volunteer vacations in the U.S. At the Blackfeet Nation in Montana, you can put your skills to use in counseling, healthcare, marketing, Internet design or research. Specific requests include lifeguard and/or swimming instructor, a grant writer, and writers to interview elders, and help design and write a book on Blackfeet history and culture. You can spend another vacation in a tourist trap or you can sign up to make a real difference in someone’s life… yours. All fees, including airfare, are tax deductible for U.S. citizens.

Making a Living By Making A Difference This site helps you turn your values into your vocation. It has a searchable database of nearly 37,000 non-profits in 165 countries where you’ll find job postings, volunteer opportunities, events, etc. Plus there’s a place to promote your products or consulting services to non-profits, a library of inspiring articles, and lots more. Site can be accessed in Spanish, French, and Russian.

Habitat for Humanity This organization uses local volunteers to build houses for people who could otherwise never afford to own their own home. They’ve got some unique programs like Women Build and Care-a-Vanners in which RV owners volunteer for various projects around the country.

Rover is one of many sites where you can sign up to care for dogs in your home. Depending on your market and what you offer you can earn $25-$100 a day.

Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) has established a series of standards for professional competence in pet dog training by certifying dog training professionals. Exams are held in 15 states and candidates who pass the exam will earn the title Certified Pet Dog Trainer and may use the designation, “CPDT,” after their names. The APDT also sponsors an annual educational conference and trade show.

In Europe: The Animal Consultants and Trainers Association. For my European friends… according to the site, ACTA members have experience in the field of media use of animals in stills, stage, advertising, television and film.

Train to become a Certified Canine Aquatic Therapist La Paw Spa, founded by Cindy Horsfall in 1996, offers aquatic physical therapy and massage therapy for dogs with injuries, or ongoing medical conditions such as arthritis. If you love the idea of starting your own canine spa, Cindy has developed a three-part training program. You’ll be introduced to the world of aquatic therapy, discover techniques to assist in animal recovery, and delve into the mental and physical benefits of aquatic therapy for canines. This unique business would be a perfect fit for anyone interested in assisting the healing process for injured dogs. For more information, visit the La Paw Spa at LaPawSpa.com.

Cool Jobs & Resources for People Who Love To Travel

Become a Paid Travel Writer

The American Writers & Artists Ultimate Travel Writer’s Program is a 269 page course that teaches you everything you need to know to launch your career as a paid travel writer. Topics include insider’s secrets to successful interviews, how to make editors happy and eager to work with you, and where to find freelance assignments. As a freelance writer, you’ll enjoy earning extra money doing what you love (traveling!), you’ll get legitimate and often substantial tax write offs for travel, entertainment, books, computers, and more. Plus, you’ll have the freedom to work from anywhere in the world, at your own pace, as your own boss. I have personally reviewed the self-study version of this course as well as attended the live workshop and can tell you without reservation that both are outstanding.

Turn Your Pictures Into Cash

What if you could earn $300, $800, or even $8,000 from a single photograph? If you think it’s impossible to make $8,000 from a single photo it’s because you haven’t met digital photographer Rich Wagner. But I have. Rich was a speaker at one of my workshops. He’s made over $8,000 selling framed copies of a single picture he snapped of a hilltop tower near his home in Connecticut. He’s also one of the developers of this exciting course. In addition to meeting Rich, I’ve personally reviewed the course and they are right when they say that it teaches anyone, even the casual vacation photographer, the secrets, tips, techniques, and strategies you need to take profitable photographs and have fun – including where to find paying clients.

Lead Tours

Lead Your Own Tours for Fun and ProfitHave you ever taken a trip and had friends and family clamor for advice on how to go to that place, too? Or maybe you sat in a piazza in Rome and thought, “I could lead other people here.” Perhaps you have a passion – wine tasting – and you’d like to share it with others. Then why not turn your travel savvy into money in the bank by designing and leading travel tours? In her new 90-page e-Guide, Go For It! Leading Tours for Fun and Profit, Cynthia Morris walks you through all the steps necessary to design, market, and lead tours either in your neck of the woods or abroad. Cynthia has been leading successful tours to France for years. After receiving a review copy of this comprehensive how-to guide, I can tell you with confidence that Cynthia’s first-hand experience combined with a ton of research is guaranteed to save you tons of time and money. (Oh and if Cynthia’s name sounds familiar she’s one of the guest speakers on the Making Dreams Happen audio program with Barbara Sher, Barbara Winter, and me).

International Living magazine has been helping people live, retire, or invest overseas for more than 30 years. Great source of information on starting business in another country or creating a portable profitable center so you can live and work anywhere. Highly recommend!

Escape to ParadiseWould you like to escape to a country and restart your life? Maybe Costa Rica? Or sailing on a barge through France? If you dream of living or working in another country this helpful site offers tons of great articles, information on overseas jobs, country profiles, international real estate listings, a free e-magazine, and a whole lot more.

Transitions AbroadThis is a great magazine for anyone who dreams of living or working overseas. Features articles and resources on how to start a business in another country, finding paid work, volunteering abroad, and lots more.

Workers on Wheels Newsletter Imagine hitting the open road? Want to learn how you can join the growing ranks of people enjoying the enterprising and economical lifestyle of full-time RVing while still earning a living? Fortunately, in addition to signing up for their free on-line e-newsletter, you can still purchase back issues of the original Workers on Wheels newsletter as well.

Notice to My Valued Readers: Since 1995 I’ve kept the Changing Course Newsletter ad-free. However, I do need to keep the lights on. So instead, some of pre-screened books, products, services, or classes reviewed here may result in my receiving a referral fee. That said, I value my 20+ year reputation far more than I do making a few bucks. Which means you can be assured that I only endorse resources I know to be of value to my readers and never recommend anything I would not personally use myself. To learn more read my article, “Transparency in Your Business” click here

From the Blog

Praise

A New Direction

I decided to take the Work @ What You Love Workshop and also work one-on-one with Valerie. The workshop explored so many unusual and unexpected solutions to my specific questions. I made so many new connections to what clearly works for me in crea...